Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt thinks it was kind of Jeremiah J. McCarthy to write to him. Roosevelt tells McCarthy that he was a “most satisfactory officer” and wishes him good fortune.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-21
Theodore Roosevelt will see F. V. Greene when he returns. He admires Greene’s enclosures but has two suggestions, which he discusses at length. First, Greene only needs to state that King of Prussia Frederick II’s approbation of George Washington seems to be a myth, as he never showed interest in Washington or the American Struggle. Roosevelt comments on Helmuth Moltke’s opinion of the Civil War and how France could have implemented similar cavalry tactics. His second suggestion is that it is incorrect to say that America’s action in the peace settlement of the Russo-Japanese War did not produce the current hostile relationships with Russia and Japan. He discusses the other factors involved.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-07
Theodore Roosevelt made a statement on the matter in The Outlook and set out the whole thing in his recent edition of The Rough Riders. Despite it being a transparent lie, he finds it hard to deal with. He wishes he could come to Oklahoma and see Arthur E. Scobey.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-28
Theodore Roosevelt asks James L. Davenport of the Board of Pensions to act on behalf of Charles Buckley, a former soldier.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-14
Theodore Roosevelt thanks John A. Herman for the book. Roosevelt discusses the battles of San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-14
In connection with the pending bill to provide Annie Gray Hawkins a pension, Roosevelt discusses General Hamilton Hawkins’ service during the Santiago campaign of the Spanish-American War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-11
Theodore Roosevelt found the book interesting and it has made him a convert. He also found the statistics about the Elandslaagte fight interesting. He compares them to and shares statistics from his experience in the Spanish-American War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-05
Theodore Roosevelt directs Henry L. Barkley to consult his book The Rough Riders for information about his conduct during the Battle of San Juan. He led two charges that day and was recommended for a medal of honor and a brevet for field conduct.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-19
Arthur G. Chapman is writing an account of the land campaign during the Spanish-American War. He asks Roosevelt to recommend the most complete publication on the subject and for a brief account of the Rough Rider’s role.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-06
Theodore Roosevelt cannot write the letter about Clara Barton that Mrs. John A. Logan wants him to because he was not impressed by Barton’s work during the Spanish-American War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-06-26
Theodore Roosevelt is glad the Spanish War veterans support preparedness. He hopes they will back it up to the limit by going for universal military training, which he thinks is absolutely essential to the country. Roosevelt is not able to make any promises about a speech, and he recommends Dwight Logan Loughborough get in touch with Medill McCormick.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-01-03
Theodore Roosevelt dismisses Willis G. Brinson’s doubts about his service record by asking Brinson to look at the last chapter of his autobiography, which is available in any public library. Roosevelt points to the report in which his superior officer recommended him for a Medal of Honor for his leadership of not only his men but the entire cavalry division in the Battle of Santiago during the Spanish-American War. The Rough Riders sustained their heaviest losses while Roosevelt was leading them, first on horseback, and then on foot.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-14
Theodore Roosevelt has read Finley Peter Dunne’s article about the Navy. Roosevelt agrees with what Dunne said about Grover Cleveland’s administration and the needs of the Navy then as compared to the present. Roosevelt notes that when he took office, Congress had stopped appropriating money for new battleships or further upbuilding of the Navy because there was no immediate need for naval defense after the Spanish War. Therefore, Roosevelt had to fight against inertia and hostility in order to inspire popular sentiment in favor of the Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-22
Theodore Roosevelt thoroughly agrees with Dr. Daniel S. Gage regarding Hoke Smith. He directs Gage to the section of his own autobiography that discusses the Spanish-American War. Roosevelt believes England acted in a way that was substantially as Gage describes, but cannot say whether it is exact.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-31
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Frederic L. Huidekoper for his book and suggests he consult the chapter on the Spanish War in Roosevelt’s autobiography for the facts, if he cares to look at them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-15
Theodore Roosevelt asks J. E. Hausmann for a favor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-07-10
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with Albert J. Beveridge’s opinion that additional battleships would have given Spain the excuse to avoid the Spanish War. Roosevelt mentions the high quality of the naval program when he was president and reiterates that World War I was not caused by anything connected to the freedom of the seas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-01-24
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Munroe Smith for sending his pamphlet, “Military Strategy versus Diplomacy.” Roosevelt corrects Smith that he served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy to John Davis Long and while Long was a “high-minded, honorable man,” Roosevelt believes he was unfit to lead the Navy. For example, one of Long’s theories was to hold all warships in port until there was danger of war. After the sinking of the USS Maine, Long refused to prepare the Navy for war as he believed this would “tend to bring about war.” Roosevelt’s actual advice to William McKinley was that the Spanish government should be informed that the United States would consider the Spanish fleet being sent to American waters as a declaration of war. If the fleet were still sent, then it would be attacked on the high seas. This is different from Long’s statement but Roosevelt doubts that Long sees the distinction.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-24
Theodore Roosevelt is glad to hear that Dodge City is starting a “Spanish War Veterans Post.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-18
Theodore Roosevelt looks forward to reading an article coming out by Lieutenant Colonel Whigam. Roosevelt is especially interested since Whigam fought as a cavalryman in Cuba alongside Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-05